Court Grants Sowore N20m Bail

The second to fifth defendants were also admitted to bail in the sum of N1million and one surety in like sum.

Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello while ruling on the bail application on Monday admitted Sowore to bail in the sum of N20million and two sureties in like sum.

The court also ordered Sowore to remain in Abuja and must physically report to the court registrar every Monday and Friday pending the hearing and determination of the case against him.

The court further ordered that one of his sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 12.

Sowore and four others are standing trial for alleged unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, and inciting public disturbance.

The trial has been fixed for February 5, 2021.

Sowore and four others were arrested by the police on New Year’s Eve during a protest against bad governance.

Sowore had earlier before the protest charged Nigerians on Twitter to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel led by James Idachaba prayed the court for their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center as investigations into the charges were ongoing.

However, the defendants’ counsel, Marshal Abubakar, attempted to make an oral application for their bail, urging the court to grant them bail on self recognition.

Segun- Bello, however, ordered that the defendants file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until Jan. 5 to hear the bail application.

She had however scheduled for ruling on Jan. 8 after entertaining arguments on the bail application filed by counsel on Jan. 6.

However, on Jan. 8, the court could not deliver the bail ruling as the defendants were  not produced in court.

This is however not the first time Sowore will be arrested. He was detained for over 100 days in 2019 for calling for a #RevolutionNowProtest.